parents and principals as partners in creating a culture of learning

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School management is directed at the effective realisation ofeducative teaching and
entails the application of management actions in a number of management areas
of the school. The school principal occupies a special position in the school and
his influence in creating a culture of learning is decisive for the effective
functioning of all facets of school life. His leadership determines the following,
among others (Badenhorst, et aI., 1994b:17-18; Kruger, 1996:5).
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the school climate;
the climate of the teaching and learning events;
the morale of personnel members; and
the school's success.
The school principal is both a professional leader and a manager of the school, and
his management and leadership style also affect classroom management and,
therefore, the pupils' performance. Teaching is a very personal activity that can
take place in isolation in every classroom - the principal can influence it effectively
by means of his leadership style, his personality and his educational leadership
programme, which includes the following (Kruger, 1995a:5-6):
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formulating and disseminating the mission of the school;
didactic guidance;
remediation; and
climate creation.
The principal's attitude towards the important role played by educative teaching
in the school programme must be clearly reflected in his educational leadership
style.